In the wake of increasing knife attacks in the country, a Japanese company, JR West, has launched around 1,200 stab-proof, lightweight umbrellas for 600 trains in the Kansai region, states a local report. This will aim to provide protection and to be held out like a shield in dangerous situations.
Earlier last week, the company announced the safety equipment during a press conference, with officials assuring that the umbrellas are compact, lighter, and easier to store. “They can be operated to some extent inside a carriage and are strong. In the event of an emergency, we want the crew to respond and have the passengers evacuate safely,” said JR West President Kazuaki Hasegawa.
According to the company, the defence tool comes in the shape of an umbrella, which can be used as a shield, allowing passengers the time to flee safely. It has been made with the use of a special cloth that is not easily penetrated and is about 20 centimetres longer than a normal umbrella, which offers a certain distance between the attacker and the holder. Also, the shields are easy to use for female passengers.
JR West looks forward to equipping around 600 trains with 1,200 of these umbrellas, starting in November this year.
Attacks On Japan Trains
In the past few years, incidents of knife attacks have been on the rise inside Japanese trains. In the most recent one that took place in July 2023, a man attacked passengers on a JR West train after he got into an argument with one of them. According to the South China Morning Post, three of 150 people aboard the train sustained injuries, including the driver. In another similar incident, a 26-year-old man was arrested for attacking 17 passengers on a Tokyo train in October 2021.
While fatal violent crimes are rare in Japan, the JR West officials are looking forward to making additional efforts to ensure the safety of the passengers, especially ahead of next year’s Osaka-Kansai Expo, stated The Japan News.
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